Corona | Coming Attractions

20th Century Fox has announced an April 4, 2012 release date for the revamped Three Stooges film.

Sofia Vergara, currently on ABC's Modern Family as the better (and younger) half of Ed O'Neill's character, is eyeing joining the cast. Her character would be named Lydia.

Former Will & Grace star Sean Hayes has been cast as Larry, giving us our second of the Stooges. Up until this point Hayes' name hadn't been mentioned as a possible contender.

Former MadTV cast member Will Sasso is now rumored to be up for playing one of the Stooges in the movie. And -- get this -- Cher tweeted recently that she would like to have a supporting role in the movie too. Actually, that idea was first heard last month from the mouth of Peter Farrelly, who suggested that the legendary female rocker could play a Mother Superior who becomes the center of the Stooges' mayhem.

Said co-director Bobby Farrelly of the actors that are auditioning for the parts, "There are unknowns who are amazing, and there are knowns who are amazing. And we want to be fair. If a complete unknown is the best, we want to go with that guy."

20th Century Fox is working out the kinks to take over the development of The Three Stooges movie from financially troubled MGM. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the deal is in the final stages and that the Farrelly brothers remain committed to directing the movie, perhaps even getting it ready to roll before cameras by mid-March 2011.

What's more uncertain is which actors would play the stooges. Right now it's unlikely that the original plan, which would have seen Jim Carrey as Curly, Sean Penn as Larry and Benicio del Toro as Moe, would materialize under the new Fox umbrella.

The Boston Herald (via Coming Soon) reports that Sean Penn is back on board to play Larry in the Farrellys' Three Stooges movie. "We got him back," said director Bobby Farrelly to the paper. "He always said he wanted to do it after, you know, taking care of his family."

Benicio del Toro is still attached to play Moe but can Jim Carrey's interest be wooed back again to play Curly?

The Names Blog bumped into Peter Farrelly and learned straight from the co-director some bad news, namely that Sean Penn has dropped out of playing Larry. The good news is that there's already a replacement Stooge in the form of Paul Giamatti. But there's also uncertain news: Jim Carrey still hasn't officially signed on to play Curly which leaves that casting up in the air.

Sean Penn has alerted the productions of The Three Stooges and Cartel that he is taking a leave of absence from acting and will not be able to meet both films' start of production. How this latest development will effect the Stooges film remains to be determined. Will the Farrellys wait for Penn -- who is rumored to be taking as much as year off -- or will they recast Larry?

The Farrelly brothers' Three Stooges movie looks to be finally moving from out of development hell with the casting announcement of Oscar-winning best actor Sean Penn as Larry and negotiations with Jim Carrey to play Curly and Benicio Del Toro to play Moe. After purchasing it from Warner Bros. MGM now holds the rights to the property and is eyeing a fall start of production and 2010 release. [Full story]